First Fanfiction! I hope you enjoy it! (No copyright intended, all characters belong to Cassandra Clare)

CASTLES MADE OF SAND, CHAPTER TWENTY ONE

Come and Get it

"If you want it, here it is. Come and get it, make your mind up fast. If you
want it anytime I can give it, But you better hurry
'cause it may not last."

Alec stood there, for possibly... Forty minutes? Trying to pick out everything that was fatuously wrong with the way he looked, in front of the over sized bathroom mirror. His hair was curled and waved at the tips; since he had viciously jumped out of the shower, and didn't bother to dry his hair properly. It gave him that sort of dishevelled look some people liked to opt. out for—but on him it just didn't suit his demeanour right—in his opinion. He almost looked as if he had spun out of his bed, literally spun. His hair was a mess of bangs going in separate directions, sweeping across his forehead, and the rest curled and waved in random spots at the tips.

Alec sighed. His hair was really, the least of his problems. The skin around his cheeks was so hot and flushed, for no apparent reason—that he didn't even want to step outside of the bathroom; in fear of the possible teasing, that could arise. His cheeks were as red as a fire cracker, with no indication as to when it would be burnt out. He had slipped on what he usually wore, and wondered if it was too subdued to wear to a party with people from their school who wore designer everything, and bright burst of color. All Alec could think to wear with even the faintest pop of color, was a white long sleeved sweater shirt, with pale grey-green stripes running across it. And of course, he was wearing dark black jeans, paired with his cream colored Levi's. But for some reason, he felt as if it wasn't good enough.

"Alec," Jace wedged himself through the bathroom door abruptly, pulling Alec's attention away from his image, and came to stand beside him, in front of the long and huge bathroom mirror. Jace raised his finger to Alec, or more so, raised his finger to what Alec was wearing—cocking his head to the side. "Planning on hitting up the chicks tonight?" Jace asked playfully and smirked lopsidedly, then bent down on the ground to stifle his way through the cabinet below the tiled sinks' counter top.

"No, not at all. What—you think it's too much? Too little?" Alec began to nervously pick at a stray loose thread of fabric at the hem of his shirt, anxiously biting the corner of his bottom lip. At this rate, he quite possibly could have the skin gnawed completely off of his lip by the end of the night. Jace gazed up from his position on the ground, and studied Alec's expression for a moment; his fiery golden eyes gliding all over Alec's face, before he returned to whatever he was doing in the cabinet.

"How about, just right. Does that sound okay for you sweet cheeks?" Jace had ducked his head fully into the cabinet by then, his voice sounded more like a refined blow horn, due to the encasing around him. But Alec couldn't mistake the sound of Jace's gruff low laugh. Jace pulled out a bottle of cologne which seemed to be unused, and stood up to face Alec once again. He was wearing light blue tattered jeans—in which the strips and distressed areas of his jeans, looked completely reasonable, and somehow rugged-sexy. He also had on a tight dark indigo t-shirt, with the J. Lindeberg crest in the corner. The shirt greatly showed off the expanse of his ample muscled chest, and hugged the muscles lining his abdomen nicely.

Somehow, the image of Jace standing in front of him, with his curly waves of golden hair, and shimmering golden eyes—Alec didn't feel as nervous as he would have before. He didn't feel that sudden rush of his heart, putter against his chest in weird uneven rhythms; pumping blood through his body unsteadily. And he definitely only felt a little, almost non-existent, hum wave through his body—unlike how it was before, just days ago. Things were changing, Alec could sense that much, and he had an odd sensation, that it was all because of Magnus.

"Yeah, that's all I needed to hear." Alec smiled half-heartily and held out his hand for the cologne bottle. Jace placed it in the palm of his hand, his fingers brushing against Alec's hand shortly. Alec looked down at the bottle: Sandal wood—the exact same scent as his body soap. Alec shakily sprayed himself twice, and handed it back to Jace, who did the same.

"Why are you so nervous?" Jace asked, cocking his head to the side, with a smug look on his face. "Is there a girl going, that you're scared you won't impress or what?" Jace had to hold back a laugh, in which he almost failed to do so.

"I'm not nervous..." Alec bit his lip again, but then instantly stopped himself in doing so; that wouldn't help in convincing Jace that he wasn't nervous, in the least. "And no, I—I'm not trying to impress anyone." Alec lied. Of course, at the back of his mind, even if he didn't want to recognize it, or admit to it, Alec wanted to impress Magnus. Plain and simple.

"Your hands are freakishly clammy Alec." Jace swiped the pads of his fingers over Alec's hand swiftly, before Alec could retract them and protest. "You're lying, I know it." Jace smiled again, and raised his eyebrow high, in an all knowing type of manner. He stood there in front of Alec, strong and tall—possibly relentless on letting Alec get away with anything so easily. Alec cursed his clammy hands, and his ivory skin tone; because otherwise there wouldn't be any other tell-tale signs of his nervousness.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Alec squirmed past Jace and out into the hallway, crossing the short space, into his bedroom.

"Don't play dumb with me, Alec. If you hadn't guessed it by now, I know more about you than anybody else." Jace crossed his arms over his chest haughtily, standing his ground in the doorway of Alec's room. "And you're nervous as shit." Alec wanted to protest and say that there were things Jace really didn't know—that Alec would never be willing to share with him, or anyone for that matter. But he was willing to give Jace the benefit of the doubt, and sighed scumming to Jace's persistence, before the situation really got out of hand—before Jace decided to wrestle and pin Alec to the ground, screaming mercy.

"Okay yes, I'm nervous. What's it to you?" Alec whined, slumping down onto his fluffy bed, resting his palms facing downwards on his thick muscled thighs.

"Who is she?" Jace smiled, a triumphant smile, and walked the small distance to Alec's bed, sitting down beside him. Who is he, Alec wanted to correct Jace. But obviously knew he couldn't. What would that kind of information entail on the relationship he had with Jace? Jace who was quite possibly the straightest stick in the bunch, who would never ever understand the conflicting feelings Alec had just began to accept. And more so, how would Jace take the fact that Alec had once had those said feelings towards him?

Alec was always scared of something happening, where the truth would emerge, and his bond with Jace would be severed in half. He could see it, and quite readily couldn't see any other way around it. It was maddening, and drove Alec insane. Because although he never wanted to face the truth when regarding Jace, he couldn't help but feel guilty about the fact that he was completely and utterly denying his best friend—his brother, of his full undivided honesty. "It's no one specific really. I'm just nervous about everyone," Alec lied again.

"Ah don't sweat it. You did fine on the boat the other day. Just think of it like that, except with more people, I guess?" Jace slipped his arm around Alec's shoulder, and pulled him close to his side, in a very friendly brotherly gesture. Alec relished in the feeling of being close to Jace, physically and mentally—but now for a whole other reason. He felt as if this contact with Jace, was a silent form of Jace saying 'I accept you. I would never deny you. I love you.'—and Alec just prayed to God, that when he was to reveal the truth, that those were the words that would slip from Jace's mouth, one day.

"Well then c'mon lets go," Alec sprung up from the bed, and headed over to his dresser, grabbing his black jacket which laid on top. "Don't want to waste any precious time, do we?" Alec laughed at how stupid he was sounding, and Jace laughed and shook his head as well.

"Oh, yenno we only have all night and all morning to have some fun." Jace grinned. "Go get Izzy, I'll get the car started." Jace stalked out of the room with his shoulders dipping low; his hands shoved into the front pockets of his light blue jeans. Alec retreated after him, but instead of turning to the left, down the hallway leading to the kitchen and front foyer, Alec ducked right, and walked to the end of the hallway where Isabelle's room was situated. He knocked twice loudly on her bedroom door, before he heard Isabelle shout 'come in!', and then turned the brass doorknob to her room, letting himself in.

Instantly he was hit by a wave of pungent fruity smells, and his eyes were met by a subtle darkness overlay. Her walls were a deep rich burgundy color, with random flecks of glitter and sparkle intermingled into the tone of the walls. Alec had seriously wondered how Isabelle was even able to coax Maryse into letting her do this to her room, when they first moved in at the beginning of summer. Clothes upon piles of clothes were stuffed into random nooks and corners of Isabelle's room, some hanging off of her furniture in haphazardly ways. As well, random pots of makeup and groups of shoes were scattered all over the hardwood floor. Isabelle was standing in front of her floor length mirror, off to the right side of the room, wearing a short, extremely short, black baby doll dress, and sheer black tights; along with a pair of deep scarlet red knee high, high-heeled boots.

Her hair cascaded down her back in long elegant waves, reminding Alec of the innocent girl she once was. "Iz, you aren't seriously going to wear that, right?" Alec asked, stopping just behind her, so he could see himself and Isabelle in the floor length mirror together. There, she was touching up her pale pink lip gloss. They had always looked strangely alike—both having inky black hair which naturally waved at the tips, angular arched eyebrows, thin pink lips, and the same smooth ivory skin tone. The basic differences between the two, was the fact Alec had his mothers livid bright blue eyes, his fathers height, and Isabelle had Robert's dark chocolate brown eyes, and was short—except for the times when she wore 6-inch heels.

"I sure as hell, am not changing." Isabelle lowered her head, and starred at Alec at the same time through the reflection of the mirror. It was a very menacing look that was passing over her pretty face. Alec sighed, he was not going to win tonight with anything. He was hopeless in fighting the issue with Jace about his nervousness, and now he knew he was completely and utterly not going to win with Isabelle. Why could she not see that all he was trying to do was protect her? Alec loved Isabelle with everything he had, and all he strained to do was to keep her out of harms way—ever since the accident.

"Fine. Just don't get yourself in trouble tonight, okay?" Alec scoffed, and turned to leave the room. But as he was about to take another step towards the door, Isabelle caught at his wrist, holding it firmly between her delicate feather-like ivory fingers.

"Wait. Alec, I'm sorry... I don't want us to fight anymore okay?" Isabelle said genuinely, her voice hushed and soothing—exactly the same tone of voice Maryse obtained in times of great struggle. Alec caught a glimpse of the small, still raised scar which crossed over the top inside of Isabelle's arm, as she held onto his wrist. Alec shuttered, only momentarily before regaining his composure.

"We weren't fighting Iz. Don't worry about it," Alec retracted his arm smoothly, not wanting to be harsh and make matters worse in Isabelle's mind.

"We haven't talked in a long time. I count that as being at odds a bit, wouldn't you say?" Isabelle wasn't meaning to be abrasive with her words, Alec could tell by the expression on her face, calm and somewhat dissapointed—but her tone came out choppy and a bit too sternly. She was upset, that was obvious enough; but the real concern, was for how long had she been thinking of this, 'at odds' thing?

"Iz, can we talk later? When we aren't headed out the door to a party?" Alec pursed his lips, and began to shift his weight back and forth on the balls of his feet. He really was excited, and anxious to be going to Sebastian's party, and didn't want to wait any longer. Mainly his excitement was directed towards hanging out with a lot more of the people from the Academy—finally establishing his place in some form of a hierarchy, with Jace and Isabelle by his side. And the rest of his excitement, and the bulk of his anxiousness, was directed to the mere fact Magnus was going to be there.

Truth be told, Alec had a restless night attempting to suppress the image of Magnus' cat eyes out of his mind—failing miserably. And now, he was blessed with the chance of seeing those familiar intoxicating eyes once again, in person, up close. Had it only been a day? When to Alec, it felt like weeks?

"Do you promise? Because there are some things I wanted to ask you..." Isabelle scrunched up her features in a very timorous kind of nature; she looked hesitant and doubtful of what she had just said, and or, of what she was meaning to potentially ask.

"Like wha—" The honking of the jeep wrangler outside cut Alec off mid-sentence.

"Later," Isabelle reached down to his hand, and pumped it twice—a subtle gesture of reassurance. Isabelle glanced at herself in the mirror, one last lingering time, and twirled her way out of the room. Alec rolled his eyes greatly, and grabbed a light army green jacket from the top of one of her pink shaded floor lamps, and followed the path of the house, which led him outside into the dark crisp night. The sky was impeccably black, with few to none clouds in the sky—and thousands of stars littering its surface. The air was a bit chilly, sweeping over Alec's still inflamed cheeks, nipping at the fragile flesh.

As Alec took his spot in the passenger seat beside Jace, he looked back at the house and thanked the lord Maryse and Robert had needed to go out of town until Tuesday, or else the Lightwood siblings would not have had the chance to go to Sebastian's. It was a bit daunting though, having to wonder what their sudden trip out of town might have been entailed for. But Alec didn't dwell on it for too long, as a sudden rush of apprehension swallowed him whole, as they began to drive down the road.

Within a couple of minutes they drove up to a large colonial styled estate, which was stark white in comparison to the appearance of Magnus' house. The shutters were a bright blue livid color, and all around the base of the house, were tiny budding red roses. The front driveway was laid out in the same fashion as Magnus' estate was: coming full circle around a spectacular cement caved fountain, with a willowy angel standing at its top. The whole entire driveway was full of cars, some extremely lavish, others very mainstream and regular.

There were a few people lazing about on the front lawn, and even through the thick glass of their jeep wrangler, Alec could hear the loud base of music flooding out of the open bright red front door. He could feel the vibration of music moving along the lines of the car in harsh waves. "Ready?" Jace asked, cutting of the ignition, unbuckling his seat belt.

"Let's tear this place apart," Isabelle whooped from the back seat, sliding flatly out of the car, and dashing as fast as her high heeled feet could take her across the lawn, over to a group of girls, dressed in a similar fashion to her. After a few seconds, Jace and Alec walked up to the front door, and walked over the large threshold into the house. From both the left and right side of the house, Alec's eyes were met by dark lowly lit spaces; but directly in front of them, was a basement door, laid in the middle of a large staircase—which reached down on both sides. The door was opened wide, and at the base of the stairs leading into the basement, Alec could see multiple purple and green lights, and music hummed loudly up the staircase.

"Ooo," James snaked his way up the stairs a second later, with Tessa grappling onto his elbow. "Who do we have here?" James slurred, stumbling a bit over his feet. Alec nearly laughed out loud, at seeing the bright flush of red splattered across James' cheeks, and the droop of his eyelids hanging low over his silver eyes.

"I'm sorry, he's a bit drunk," Tessa apologized, smiling widely to Jace and Alec, as she snaked her arm around James' waist, holding him upright. "It's right down there, try not to trip on your way down, the steps are a bit steep," Tessa added, leading Jem around the corner of the left side of the staircase, into a secluded area of the house. Alec and Jace began in the direction of the basement; the closer they got, the louder the base of the music drummed, and the brighter the flashing purple and green lights got. The archway at the end of the dark staircase opened up into a huge dark room, with strobe lights flashing across different walls, in different patterns simultaneously. There were black figures, moving and snaking around to the beat of the music—people, together, shifting in an intoxicating wave of movement.

They were all students Alec faintly recognized, from some of his classes, and many of them were swaying their hips against one another—grinding in the grittiest of ways; some kissing in the darkest corners of the room, and others talking and laughing over the noise. Alec was frozen, and didn't know what to do; he had been to a few parties before, but usually they were more subdued, and less euphoric and or erotic than this one deemed to be. "I'll be right back." Jace snaked his way through the crowd of people, over to a seating area, with bright red couches, where Clary sat with Camille and another girl with strawberry blonde hair.

Everyone around Alec was dressed in barely there, and tight clothing; causing Alec to feel completely out of place, with his dark washed jeans, green striped long sleeve, and cream colored Levi's. For a moment he was lost, drifting through the crowd; or more so dragged in by the crowd, to wind and bump to the beat. He felt intoxicated and drawn to the gritty sweaty dance crowd—the lights left colorful glows across the many porcelain faces of the crowds; sparkling ever so slightly off the many glittering eyes. Alec was alone—Isabelle and Jace no where in sight anymore—he almost sensed it internally, but that didn't stop him from socializing with those around him, taking a few swigs of random drinks of different colors. He knew he wouldn't get drunk, he didn't like to think what could consequently happen if he did. But still for an hour or so he had fun, just talking to newer people, and dancing to the music.

It was another world down there in Sebastian's basement, a gritty, dark world, where teenagers could unwind without the constant over powering protection of a parent. This underground basement party proved to be a haven in itself, a dirty one at that.

There was a sudden wave of minty cold breath on Alec's neck, pulling him from his intoxicating state of mind. "Are you having fun?" Magnus' husky voice tickled the hairs on Alec's exposed neck. Something about the proximity of Magnus' body to Alec's, and the thumping base, made Alec lean back into Magnus' body; never fully turning around to see his expression, but he could feel the tense lines of Magnus' chest as he did so. Alec slowly rocked his hips from side to side, swaying his feet in front of him—the crowd forcing both Magnus and Alec further together. After awhile, Magnus skimmed his hands down the curves of Alec's body, and rested them on either side of Alec's hips, pulling Alec against him forcefully. They began to move fluidly as one, and gradually everything started to slip away.

The sound left first, and then the people, and all Alec could sense was himself and Magnus. Nothing else seemed to matter in that moment. And Alec wasn't scared, surprisingly about the people around them—but maybe that was for the simple fact that no one would exactly be able to see them, with the darkness of the space, and the large crowd of people flooding around them.

But, what was Alec doing? And how come Magnus was willing to give into Alec's motions? Alec froze, and turned in the circle of Magnus' arms; and found himself once again inches away from Magnus' face. "I need air," Alec breathed shakily. Magnus' eyes were locked on his, and Alec couldn't tell if his eyes were dark as they were because of the darkness of the basement, or for some other hidden reason.

Magnus released his hands from Alec's sides and smirked, grabbing a hold of his palm—dispite the fact Magnus knew Alec's hands were probably clammy—and dragged him through the crowd, over to the archway which led to the staircase. Alec followed Magnus up the stairs in tow, and as they got closer to the front foyer, Alec could distinctly make out what Magnus was wearing: tight black waxy pants—most likely leather—which conformed to the frame of his legs and butt, as if it were painted on, and a bright purple v-necked sweater, which hid his arms well, but showed off his chest equally as good. The part of his arms which were visible were greatly adorned by glittery sparkly bracelets, and a pristine white watch. Magnus' clothes fit his frame almost too perfectly—and made Alec's heart skip and beat irregularly against his chest.

Once they got to the top of the steps, Magnus rather harshly dragged Alec over to the right, yanking his body sideways into one of the lowly lit rooms nestled off to the side. "Hey—" Alec began to protest, but within a flash of a second, hot lips were pressed against his, cutting him off. Alec was burning now, his emotions flaring up, his blood running like a heated frenzy throughout his body. For a moment Alec stood there, too shocked to give into the hot lips which were pressed against his, too shocked to respond or move. He felt light headed, just about ready to fall over, his knees going slack weak. Then Magnus stepped back from the brief kiss, and placed his hands on Alec's shoulders, steadying him.

Alec felt as if a piece of him was rudely being taken away, before he could savour it, just that much more, in that moment that Magnus' lips detached from his. He hadn't realized that his eyelids slipped shut, and as he slowly opened them, adjusting to his surroundings—the light of the moon, and a small table lamp, which was dimly lit in the corner, outlined ever curve and feature to Magnus' face and body. After what seemed like hours of hesitation, Magnus searching Alec's eyes with a anxious piercing look to his face; Alec took Magnus' face into his hands, cupping his jaw, gently as to not upset the bruises there. "I need a bit more," Alec said before he leaned in, and this time pressed his lips hotly to Magnus'.

Their lips collided with one another, in the most feverish of ways, moving together in a hungry frenzy, almost as if they were both grasping for that last breath of air—that only the other could supply. Magnus glided his hands around Alec, placing his palms on the small of Alec's back, and pulled him even closer to his body—so close that their hips were touching—being crushed together. Magnus tasted of salt, like fresh sea water, and sweet spearmint; his lips soft, but intense with every movement. Alec couldn't breath, as their bodies were forced together even further; Alec felt his ribs crying for air, but for the life of him, he never wanted their lips to part. Magnus left long, desired kisses, one after the other on his lips, causing Alec's body to shutter with sweet tremors of unadulterated heat.

Alec whimpered loudly, as Magnus bit down lightly on the sensitive skin of his bottom lip, pulling it tenderly with his teeth. Magnus took advantage of the situation, and slid his tongue expertly into Alec's mouth—clashing and fighting for dominance with Alec's tongue. Alec reached his arms around Magnus' neck, attempting to close the space between them even more, by pulling his face even closer—although there wasn't much space to begin with.

Alec could feel the rush of Magnus' heartbeat hammering against his ribs and chest, and Alec wondered if his heart had the same adrenaline paced rhythm. With every kiss, Alec tried to convey the message: Don't ever let go. His knees were weak with the onslaught of heat that crawled between the almost none existent cracks of their joined bodies. A moan erupted from the back of Alec's throat, and as he did so Magnus' fingers dug deeper into his back, knotting into the fabric of his long sleeved sweater. Magnus moved his left hand slowly, trailing it up and under Alec's sweater, outlining the supple curve of his back. Every strip of skin Magnus' fingers danced over, Alec felt another simmer and or tremor of fire being ignited to those spots. Heated moans and subtle groans passed between them—both Magnus and Alec seemed intent on swallowing each and every sound which bubbled up from the back of each others throats.

Alec was becoming lightheaded and dazed from the lack of air, their bodies rubbing against each others—in the most erotic sensational way—their tongues moving together, over the expanse of gums, and teeth—and he desperately needed to recollect air into his lungs. He began to retract from the deep kisses, and turned them into feverish pecks against Magnus' lips—smiling as brightly as he could. They finally parted, as the need for air became increasingly alarming. His cheeks were flush, and he couldn't find it in himself to move his arms that were wrapped tightly around Magnus' neck. Although they had stopped kissing, Alec never dared to let go of him—he was immensely drawn to the rhythmical rise of Magnus' chest against his, and the heat of his skin against his fingertips.

Magnus looked down at Alec with an equally beaming smile on his face, his yellow-green eyes filled with such happiness—which were now the color of pale sage leaves during blooming season, with flecks of gold splitting off in different directions. Don't ever let go, Don't ever leave, Alec wanted to say; but he was breathless, and instead placed his head against Magnus' chest, breathing in ever ounce of him. Relishing the feeling of having Magnus under his fingertips.

Oh, this was all so surreal, and Alec wished that he wasn't dreaming this—it would be the biggest disappointment to him, if he had been. Or did he wish that he was? So that he could go back to being slightly disconnected from Magnus in a way, without revealing how he truly felt about Magnus. This was different—Alec had never kissed another guy before, and by doing so, he just created a number of deep complications for himself. Complications he could have easily avoided, but his mind and body told him not to, in that heated moment. He needed time to think, time where he could muddle over all the thoughts and emotions running through his mind. But right now, was not the time. If he was going to crack down hard on himself tomorrow—he at least wanted to savour this blissful moment he had right now for a little bit longer.

"I still need to get some air," Alec gingerly said after a few moments of Magnus just holding him, and Alec holding Magnus. Magnus laughed loudly, but Alec caught a hint of restraint within the laugh.

"Mmm," Magnus purred, "that sounds good right about now, lovely."

A/N: :3 I just realized that it has been twenty one chapters, and they haven't even kissed yet (well until now). Holy shit, I'm terrible to you guys aren't i? So yeah, here it is! Their first kiss, and I really hope you guys liked it! Seriously, I would love it, if all of you reviewed, and told me what I could've done better, or what you liked about it! Get ready to be submerged into a world of Malec in the coming chapters, by the end of it all, you will be sick of it—I promise (; . And be prepared for some hard truths, hard pasts, and even more sibling bonding (I have to get more Jace and Isabelle in there, I feel as if I'm depriving them of their right to be in these). Also, be forewarned that William is a growing force in the background... muaha. So yeah, I really hope you guys liked it! I've been awfully scared to post this for a couple of days, because I didn't know if it lived up to its esteem or not. The next update may take a few days longer than usual, because I need to switch around a few things in my story line, add things, take out things, ect.

Review, prettys! You don't understand how much this one will mean to me!

Amber,